Anticreeper railway rail



J1me 1952 v. M. LUTZ ANTICREEPER RAILWAY RAIL Filed NOV. 8, 1947 Patented June 3, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AN'TICREEPER RAILWAY RAIL 1 Vergil M. Lutz, Springfield, Ohio Application November 8, 1947, Serial No. 784,846

7 Claims.

This invention relates to railway rail anchoring apparatus, and more particularly to anti-creeping devices, and the method of manufacture thereof.

Anti-creeping devices have heretofore been known and used. They are anchor-like elements which are applied to railway rails to restrain longitudinal shifting of the rails occasioned by the thrust and vibration set up by passing rolling stock. In railroad terminology this longitudinal shifting of the rails is known as creeping, and devices provided to inhibit such motion are called anti-creepers.

The development of anti-creepers has been intensively pursued to the end that these devices may more eificiently perform their function, may be used in fewer number, be easier of installation, and be more simply and readily manufactured.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction as well as the method of manufacture and the mode of operation of anti-creepers for railway rails, whereby they may not only be economically manufactured, but will be efficient in use, easily installed and unlikely to get out of repair.

It is thought that the anti-creeper device embodied in the apparatus of the present invention incorporates these sought after features to a degree greater than any in the prior art, and it is the general object of the invention to obtain a device so characterized.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a more substantialmounting for the anti-creeper, and one which makes possible a reduction in the number of such devices required for a given length of rail, by making the anti-creeper in eifect a part of the rail bed plate mounted directly upon the tie. In the past it has been the practice to mount the anti-creeper between adjacent ties and in abutment with one of them, a pair of the devices being required to resist rail motion in opposite directions. I

Another object of the invention is to make the anti-creeper from one-piece spring metal bar stock, so forming the bar as to provide means at both ends of the device for engagement with opposite side edges of the rail flange, at least one of the means constituting jaws for clamping engagement with the flange.

A further object of the invention is to impart a set twist to the jaw portion of the anti-creeper device in such a way as to resolve the clamping pressure thereof into lateral and opposed longitudinal thrust components.

, Still another object of the invention is to impose a positive restraint upon the rail by forming the bar of which the anti-creeper is made of stock which is approximately square in cross-section, the corners of the bar being presented for contact with the rail flange in response to the pretwisting of the jaws and such corners cutting into and becoming embedded in the rail flangeunder the clamping pressure.

A still further object of the invention is to obtain a method of making and forming the anticreeper device which may be used quickly and easily to attain the structure above described.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected by Letters Patent consists of thefeatures and method of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation and use, or their equivalents, as hereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein is illustrated the preferred but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the anchoring apparatus of the invention installed in cooperative relation with a railway rail and tie;

Fig. 2 is a detail plan view of the anti-creeper device; I v

Fig. 3 is a view of a railway rail in cross-section, showing the anti-creeper and bed plate assembly in side elevation applied thereto;

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the jaws of the anti-creeper device in cross-section clamped together for application to a rail flange; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the jaws released and in clamping engagement with the rail flange.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, a railway rail is indicated at I0, having the usualbase flangev II. The base flange l I of the rail rests on a, bed plate I2, in turn secured by spikes l3 to a tie M.

The bed plate [2 is a metal plate having an elevated land or track portion I5 on which the rai1 flange II seats. Defining one Side edge of the track portion I5 of the plate I2 is a longitudinal shoulder i6 against which the flange I I abuts. The spikes l3 have heads overlapping the side edges of the flange II and so act in conjunction with the shoulder l B on the bed plate to hold the rail firmly upon the tie l4 and assist in inhibiting longitudinal creeping of the rail.

Positively acting means serving the latter function is provided in the form of an anchor or anticreeper device [1, positioned within an opening 18 in the bed plate l2; Together, the device I! and bed plate l2 comprise rail anchoring apparatus. The opening l3 extends transversely beneath the rail flange H with the ends thereof lying beyond the side edges of track portion Hi. The device I1, as shown in Fig. 2, is of integral one-piece construction being fabricated from spring metal bar -stock which when viewed .in cross-section has a substantiallyisquare shape. In forming the device, the bar is bent about its approximate mid-point to define a pair of elongated parallel fingers IS. The closed or base end of the device is upturned in the form-of a lip-2i engageable with one side edge of the rail flange II. The opposite or free ends of the fingers I9 are reversely bent upon the fingers and inspaced relation thereto and in parallel relation to each other to define a pair of prongs 22. At a point adjacent their ends the" prongs 22 are bent to an -inclined angle inconforma-nce with the slope of the mar flange l I. *The prongs- 22a in predetermined'spaced relation to the fingers I 9 to form "with the fingers,'= 'ja-ws receiving theside edge of 'the flange opposite-thatengaged bylip 2 I. The spacing"between'the-prOngs ZZ-andfingers i9 is such as to cause the jaws yieldingly' toseparate "when applied to the-flange,- and when installed, to "exert aclamping pressure'the'reon.

The fingers lfl of the device I'I are arranged'in contacting relatiomto theside walls of the open- 5 ings" I 8 and are so' held against lateral movement 'relative tdthe bed plate l2. "-As'a' final step in forming of the device l'I,-the prongs 22 are spread 'or s'prung' apart to impart-a} set tw'ist thereto and to' the underlying-portions of thefingers {I 9. In 'this'-'st'ep ofthe method the base or closed-end of the fingersl9 a nd portions outward thereof'are held or clamped against movement; The spread- "ing'o'r springingof 'the prongs 22 "is' continued "until corners orangle portions 'thereoi and of the underlying fi-n'gers 19 are presented for contact with the rail flange. As shown in Fig. 5, the'relative' positions "of" the prongs" and fingers "accordingly are such that 't-he outside lower comers of the prongs become-contact points, while the in- 1 side upper corners of the fingers! 9 become*contact points, the latter being within or intermediate' the relatively wider spacing of the former.

Further, the "arrangement/is such that theangular portions of the-prongsfand fingers'may cut into andbecome embedded in the surface of" the "rail flange positively to restrain longitudinal motion thereof. 1 Oneprong 22 andthe fingerilasso'ciatedwith-theother prong 22complementone -following which the-spikes IB-are" driven secu'rely tor-fastem'the plate 'to' the tie. The anti-creeper I device I1 is engaged withl the rail flange l asa ,partof' this-motion by placingthe prongs-22 cm athe upper'side'. of one edge of the flange, 'the-' in- ;stallatiorrbeing completed, if necessaryg-by driving-the devicelongitudinally.-to: permit the lip2l ,;to snap into place in engagementwith the opposite side edge of the Jfla'nge. By' 'reas'on o the angular twist, imparted to the iawsi of th d'ei'ice -in-themanufacture thereof; moreeasily in- 1 cated in Fig. 5.

It will be noted that by reason of the set twist imparte'dto the prongs 22, the inherent clamping pressure of the jaws upon the flange is resolved intodate'ral and opposed longitudinal thrusts ef- 1 'fe'ctively inhibiting creeping of the rail. Continueduse will not loosen the grip of the device 11 since vibration and attempted creeping of the rail merely serve to cause the jaws to out more deeply into the flange. It is'to be further 'noted in" connection with the anchoring-apparatus that asingle assembly'is eifective to prevent eridwise movement of the rail in either direction. -Accordingly, use of the anti-creeper in pairs-is unnecessary.

From the above description it will he apparent that there is thus provided-a device "of-the character described possessing the particular features of advantage -before-- enumerated as "desirable, but which obviously" is susceptibleof modification in its form, proportions, =detailc'onstruction and arrangement of partswithoutde- 'parting from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in orderto complywiththe statute the invention has been described 'in' 'ia'ng'uage more or less specific-asto structural features, it""is to be understood thatthe invention" isnot limited to the specific "features shown,- but 'thatthe I means and construction hereindisclosed comprise the preferred-"form of several modes of putting the invention intoeffect;andthe invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or "modifications within the -'legitimate'='andvalid scope of the appended claims.

- Havingt-hus' de'scribed invention ii -claim:

1. anti-creeper for railway railsic'omprisin'g a one-piece length of spring metal 'f liaving' an 7 18111 1 shape in cross-"sectionrs'aid length-"of metal *being bent at --approximately *i-tsrnedial point to form a pair *of' substantia lly parallel "fingers, the-ends 'of i said "fin'gersbeingbent back upon themselves in spaced'relationtoth fiiigers and inparall'el relation to-ea'chother, and "said ends 'beingspreadap'art ina'manner todinpart a set twist 'tothe 'overlapping-portions' bfsaid "fingers andthe ends thereof "caiising eacli" t present to the other oppositely" disposed'an"gle portions. 7

2. A deviceac'cording"to'elaim 1 ,"'"'bharacterized in that the closed end oi said"d'ev-ice; 'orithe' bent portion 'repres'enting'the' base 'of saidf'fingers',1'is

formed'wi'th an upturnedflipjsaidflip and 'the "jaws formed 'by'said fingers andthetiirnediover ends of said" fingers 'being"engageablef with the opposite-side edges of a 'rail 'fl'ange.

3. An anti-creeper *deviceifor railwavrails having a base flange; "comprising afone-piece length" of-spr1ngmetal "having an angular fsh'ape iin cross sectionflsaid"lengthof metal'being tent "at approximatelyits mid-point to form" aipair of substantially parallel fingersftheends'bf'said fingers 1 being bent "*back upon {themselves" in fingers and said bent over ends jaws respectively engageable with the underside and the upper side of a rail flange along one edge thereof, the ends of said fingers and the portions of said fingers overlapped by said ends having a set twist presenting angle portions thereof for contact with the rail flange.

4. An anti-creeper device for railway rails having a base flange, comprising a one-piece length of spring metal having an angular shape in cross-section, said length of metal being bent at approximately its mid-point to form a pair of substantially parallel fingers, the ends of said fingers being bent back upon themselves in parallel relation to each other to form of said fingers and said bent over ends jaws respectively engageable with the underside and the upper side of a rail flange along one edge thereof, said fingers extending along the underside of the rail flange and terminating at their base ends in an upturned lip engageable with the opposite edge of the rail flange, and a set twist in the portions forming said jaws to present angle portions thereof for contact with the rail flange.

5. An anti-creeper device for railway rails having a base flange, comprising a bar of spring metal bent at approximately its mid-point to form two parallel lengths, the ends of said bar being adjacent one another and reversely bent upon themselves and in parallel relation to each other to form jaws to receive one side edge of the rail flange, and said bar ends being sprung apart by opposed torsional twisting of said parallel lengths in such manner that when clamped together and applied to the rail flange said ends when released exert in conjunction with the underlying bar lengths a clamping pressure upon the rail flange, said bar having an angular shape in cross section, the springing of said bar ends imparting a twist thereto and to the underlying bar lengths causing such portions of the bar to present angle surfaces for contact with the rail flange.

6. Railway rail anchoring apparatus, comprising a tie, a bed plate secured to said tie in a position underlying the rail flange, a rectangular opening in said bed plate extending transversely beneath the rail flange, and a spring metal anticreeper device received in said opening and limiting against the sides thereof, said device including a longitudinally twisted body portion and a turned over end portion forming with said twisted body portion jaws yieldingly receiving one side edge of the rail flange and exerting a clamping pressure thereon under influence of the twisted spring metal body portion, the turned over end of said device being comprised of spaced prongs sprung apart to resolve the clamping pressure applied to the rail flange into lateral and opposed longitudinal thrusts resisting endwise movement of the rail in either direction, said prongs further having a generally square shape in cross section, the springing apart of said prongs imparting a set twist thereto pre-' senting corners of the prongs for contact with the rail flange.

7. An anti-creeper device for railway rails, including a length of spring metal angularly shaped in cross section, said length of metal being bent at about its mid portion to form a pair of parallel fingers, the free ends of said fingers being bent back upon themselves in parallel relation to each other, said fingers and said bent over ends forming jaws respectively engageable with the underside and upper side of a rail flange along one edge thereof, said fingers extending along the underside of the rail flange and terminating at their base ends in an upturned lip engageable with the opposite edge of the rail flange, and opposed set twists in the portions forming said jaws to present opposed angle portions engageable with the upper side of the rail flange, an upper angle portion of one jaw and a lower angle portion of the other jaw cooperating to inhibit creep of the rail in one direction and the other corresponding angle portions of said jaws cooperating to inhibit creep of the rail in the opposite direction.

VERGIL M. LUTZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,210,309 Hawley Dec. 26, 1916 1,580,644 Blair Apr. 13, 1926 1,619,902 Warr Mar. 8, 1927 1,693,804 Blair Dec. 4, 1928 1,700,775 Sampson Feb. 5, 1929 1,706,273 Woodings Mar. 19, 1929 2,061,804 Mulvihill Nov. 24, 1936 2,299,354 Spencer Oct. 20, 1942 

